Unsafe hours putting doctors, patients at risk: AMA survey
September 1, 2008
WA's overcrowded public hospitals are taking their toll on junior doctors with many having to work dangerously long hours, putting patients' lives – and their own – at risk, according to an AMA (WA) survey.
"Many doctors are working 15-hour shifts for three or four nights in a row - and then driving home exhausted in the early hours of the morning," said Dr Ruth Blackham, chair of the association's Doctors in Training Committee which carried out the survey.
"Every week I hear of junior doctors falling asleep at the wheel and of others who are so tired they have difficulty doing basic procedures on their patients.
"Health Minister Jim McGinty promised two years ago that doctors wouldn't be forced to work unsafe hours – but nothing has changed."
Almost 300 junior doctors working at WA's five major public hospitals (Sir Charles Gairdner, Royal Perth, Fremantle, Princess Margaret and King Edward Memorial), responded to the survey which rated hospitals on issues such as safe hours, security, work facilities, payslips, teaching and parking.
A similar survey was done in 2004.
"In some areas there has been considerable improvement in most of the hospitals," said Dr Blackham.
"However, the recurring nightmare for nearly all young doctors is the unreasonable hours they have to work.
"None of them want to endanger their careers by refusing to work long hours when the hospitals are constantly under siege.
"However, commonsense tells them they are risking the lives of their patients and their own when they can barely keep their eyes open."
Dr Blackham said the problem was made worse because none of the hospitals encouraged doctors to use free taxi vouchers when they had to travel home exhausted.
"Some doctors said they were not even aware that taxis were an option," she said.
Other issues of concern revealed in the survey were:
+ The unrealistic combination of rostered hours coupled with a significant amount of on-call and call back - in some cases up to 72 hours.
+ Payslips – 77 per cent of respondents said they still had difficulty understanding their payslips from Health Corporate Network.
+ Annual leave – nearly all hospitals failed to confirm leave applications until the last minute, making it impossible to take advantage of cheap prices for airfares and accommodation.
On the positive side, the survey showed that most hospitals had improved access to study leave, formal teaching, library facilities, parking and security lighting.
Dr Blackham said the AMA (WA) would take up issues identified in the survey with the Government and the hospitals concerned. The association wanted to ensure that newly developed health services provided improved facilities for doctors.
AMA (WA) President Prof Gary Geelhoed said the survey was an important tool for gauging the issues that could make or break the resolve and commitment of young doctors.
"Our junior doctors are one of our most precious assets in a public health system struggling to cope," he said.
"They need to be looked after and encouraged, not turned into physical wrecks before they've even completed their training."
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